According to an analysis published by the American outlet The National Interest, five models of Soviet and Russian combat aircraft made it into the top ten leaders in global exports in the entire history of aviation.
Experts note that it was the USSR that established a dominant presence in the international fighter market thanks to a unique concept: the combination of technological simplicity, maintainability, and combat effectiveness.
The leader of the ranking was the legendary MiG-21, whose export production run exceeded 10,000 units supplied to more than 60 countries. The fighter not only set a record for the number of exported supersonic aircraft, but also took part in numerous armed conflicts of the second half of the 20th century. To this day, the MiG-21 retains the status of the most mass-produced supersonic fighter in the history of world aviation.
The leaders also included three early models of the MiG family. The MiG-15, thanks to its ruggedness and reliability, was distributed in 1,500-2,000 examples. The MiG-17, distinguished by outstanding maneuverability for its time, proved itself a formidable opponent in air battles over Vietnam and the Middle East - a total of about 3,000 such aircraft were exported. The MiG-19, which became the first Soviet mass-produced supersonic fighter, was delivered to customers in the amount of approximately 2,000 units and was widely produced under license, especially in China, playing a key role in the technological transition from subsonic aircraft to modern jet systems.
Rounding out the Soviet-Russian five in the ranking is the Su-27, a heavy fourth-generation fighter developed to achieve air superiority at long ranges. More than 1,200 aircraft of this model and its modifications were exported. High maneuverability, impressive flight range, significant combat load, and extended patrol time made the Su-27 a sought-after solution for the air forces of dozens of countries.
In addition to Soviet and Russian developments, the top ten most exported fighters also included three American and two French models; however, it is the Soviet legacy that is represented most broadly, both in the number of models and in the overall volume of deliveries.
Read more materials:
- Tests of the launch of the drone \"Knyaz Vandal Novgorodskiy\" from the BEK \"Skorlupa\" were carried out in the Black Sea
- The KPGA plan was revised again: aircraft production was reduced by 50 airframes
- 19FortyFive: Combining the resources of Russia and China for the PAK DA project could be a logical step